For the next two weeks an international cricket tournament is taking place in the UAE. It is a qualifying event for the World Twenty20 tournament that will happen in Sri Lanka in September. All of the top cricketing nations: England, Australia, India, and so on, have been seeded into the main tournament. This event will give two lucky minnows a chance to try their luck against the big boys.

There are teams from all over. We have the USA and Canada, Ireland and Scotland, Italy and Denmark, Kenya and Uganda. Here are a few highlights.

The defending champions are Afghanistan who caused a huge surprise last time around. They kicked off with a comfortable win over Papua New Guinea.

The Netherlands are also hot favorites to get through, though they appear to be without their star, Ryan ten Doeschate, who is widely acknowledged as the best player from outside the main cricketing nations. He has a lucrative contract playing in South Africa and didn’t make himself available. The Dutch kicked off with a comfortable win over Canada.

Ireland are also hoping to do well after their upset win over England last year. Sadly they got off to a poor start, losing to Namibia by just 4 runs.

The dark horses of the tournament may be Italy. You don’t normally associate them with cricket, but their side includes Michael Di Venuto who was born in Tasmania and has for some years been a mainstay of the hugely successful Durham side. He has done very well for my fantasy cricket team too. Today the Italians thrashed Oman by 9 wickets.

The USA probably don’t stand much chance, and they have not done themselves any favors today by losing narrowly to Uganda. They might beat Oman though, and Kenya, also in their group, look vulnerable. USA-Scotland could be fun.

You may be wondering where the Welsh team is. Well, they are seeded, because the team that people usually call “England” represents the England & Wales Cricket Board. Welsh players are all qualified to play for “England”, and many have. One, Tony Lewis, captained the side. There is, however, one Welsh player in the tournament. Geraint Jones, who kept wicket for England for several years, was born in Papua New Guinea. He didn’t have a good game today, but I’ll be keeping an eye on him.